AI and Art

At the Silent Rave we have been deliberating on the various decisions that need to be made which reflect our collective stance on the influence of AI on human creativity.

Should we allow AI music? (AI which is stealing the works of human artists used to feed the data models)

Is it ethical to get AI to play any part in our organsation and if so: what limitations do we set?

How will our decisions impact ravers and the way we play throughout Australia and the wider world?

It has been challenging to not use AI. Especially with our corporate competitors slowly aligning themselves with the AI behemoths in tech to remain releveant and findable. Of course we want you the audience to find us among the paid ads. Yet, also spend the time to make our content and activities so people find us relevent, all the while, being an owner operated local business that hasnt sold its soul.

As you are all may be aware AI is currently unsustainable too. Stealing not only ideas, but also scarce water and power, which most certainly is not even close to sustainable and carbon free in Australia. We have yet to see a timeline on when the power and water issue will be resolved, if it ia being addressed at all. As for the impacts and bypassed approvals on data centres, dodged taxes, a whole other kettle of fish.

Then there comes the artistic debate: how much of the music and art we feature will be allowed to be AI made or influenced and how will that impact emerging artists?

Some musicians find AI helpful in creating a sort of framework for their ideas. Whether its a melody they make into a song, or a lyric which they cannot yet put chords to. Where once they would have not been able to create the tune, now they can, or they can produce music at an incredible speed with its help. Sometimes a song which may have become irrelevant to people by the time it is released may now have a chance to pop quickly into subculture.

So far at The Silent Rave we have remained apolitical in the midst of rising tensions over alleged illegal behaviour by artists. Not naming examples, but understanding that sometimes, music stands on its own and politics is seperate.

But that's a little difficult when the separation between religion and state appears blurry on demand and the decision to continue or stop featuring artists on shows who don't support heniously illegal and evil activities (or at the very least don't stand by and say nothing) in order to remain neutral at the whim of billionaire sponsors.

Who decides what goes? The DJ? The client? Us?

And then there is the washing and influence of AI in art such as below. We used to imagine the day when AI would work for us while we worked less and danced more. But the implications of AI decisions like the below have us arguing and working even harder to please our masters and critics:

Row erupts over Cairo mural depicting Tutankhamun and Nefertiti with dark skin | Global development | The Guardian https://share.google/7SBDfg5VFw3gR9WyN

AI now pervades our lives and a line needs to be drawn. A decision made daily as to how much AI is allowed to enter into each and every orgnisation and how much it will influence operations.

We also need to stand on the right side of history. We cannot and will not stay silent in face of wanton destruction, beligerant breaking of international laws, continued violence and death.

We seek to strike a balance which favours true art and expression, with the freedom for creative interpretation without arguments that marginalise humans and art. We are a business, but one with a conscience.

We fear the day when one cannot Rave without surveillance via AI and penalised for dancing and gathering with our community. That day may already be here. A day when speech is not free unless its approved by authority and you cannot sing "Honey to The Bee" without getting arrested for insinuating what it may possibly rhyme with and potentially mean.

Art, expression and death & destruction cannot coexist. When people die, dance floors and parks turn into cemetaries. We stand with those who simply want to be respected, have food, shelter, be loved and left alone to sing, dance and be human again.

We are The Silent Rave and we refuse to be silent on the matter of Billionaire oligarchs, their destructive technology, and their friends in high places who wage war on us via proxies.